Govia Thameslink Railway, the UK’s largest train operator, is collaborating with the Premier League football club Brighton and Hove Albion to deliver a range of projects that will benefit thousands across Sussex.

As part of the deal, schoolchildren will be given important safety talks besides existing sessions with the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation, which is already providing a wide range of programmes at over 100 of the region’s schools.

The renewed partnership will continue to provide fans with the benefit of including their travel by Southern and Thameslink train with their match day tickets to Brighton and Hove Albion’s home matches at the Amex Stadium at Falmer on the outskirts of Brighton.

To help young people understand the dangers of the railway and how to use it safely, Govia Thameslink Railway is holding workshops of about an hour in schools and clubs.

Since August 2024, 4,000 youngsters in Sussex and Surrey have already attended these workshops.

Brighton and Hove Albion is pleased with Govia Thameslink Railway’s new and much wider-ranging partnership and delighted to have the company as a new club partner.

The club hopes this new long-term arrangement will enable it to work even closer with Govia Thameslink Railway and continue to provide match day train services to fans travelling to and from home games.

Match day tickets can be used for travel by Southern and Thameslink trains from selected railway stations in Sussex to Falmer station during the three-and-a-half hours before kick-off.

Other football fans benefitting from travelling to matches by train are those from West Ham United, which has teamed up with Trainline to offer fans a 20% discount on train fares to selected Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League matches.

Govia Thameslink Railway is giving away 9,000 free tickets to school and college students from Greater London and Surrey for travel to East Grinstead on Southern and Thameslink services so they can take part in an educational visit to the Bluebell Railway.

“Just like the work Brighton and Hove Albion does in Sussex, the railway plays an integral part of bringing communities in the region together especially on match days. We are pleased to have signed a renewed partnership with the club to work together in delivering important safety workshops to young people.”

Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway